Pick Pony Tip Sheet – Expert picks for Will Rogers Downs, February 16, 2026.


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Race 1 Claiming 5 Furlongs Dirt Purse $23,000

Win: Baseball Politics (5) – 50% confidence

Place: Runhappy Doro (1) – 33% confidence

Show: Twentyone N Change (4) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Berry Mischievous (2) – 50% confidence

Analyst consensus is split between the outside speed and the class dropper. While some analysts favor the sprint speed of horse 5, others believe horse 1 or horse 4 can wear them down in the closing stages of this short sprint.

Race 2 Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $20,000

Win: Washita Valley (3) – 83% confidence

Place: K Q Spirit (1) – 50% confidence

Show: Howboutcha (2) – 17% confidence

Alternative: Atreidesreflection (4) – 17% confidence

This race features the strongest consensus of the day, with nearly every analyst backing horse 3 to secure the win. Horse 1 is the primary selection for the runner-up spot, though there is little agreement on the minor awards in this small field.

Race 3 Claiming 1 Mile Dirt Purse $20,000

Win: Copper Magician (1) – 50% confidence

Place: Uptono Buena (4) – 33% confidence

Show: Stonington (5) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Crab Crunch (3) – 33% confidence

Analysts show a diverse range of opinions here, though horse 1 maintains a slight edge in win selections. The lack of a clear second-choice creates a complex wagering landscape, as horse 4 and horse 5 are equally supported for underneath positions.

Race 4 Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $13,000

Win: Because (5) – 83% confidence

Place: Natusia (6) – 17% confidence

Show: All Aflutter (2) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Accelerate Judy (1) – 33% confidence

The majority of analysts are firmly in the camp of horse 5. There is some minor dissent regarding the exacta pairings, with analysts divided between horse 6 and horse 1 as the primary threats to the favorite.

Race 5 Maiden Claiming 6 Furlongs Dirt Purse $11,000

Win: Ruby’s Posse (2) – 67% confidence

Place: Zayla (1) – 33% confidence

Show: Eurpurdy (7) – 17% confidence

Alternative: So Whatro (5) – 33% confidence

The win consensus centers on horse 2, who looks to break the maiden tag today. Analysts are moderately aligned on horse 1 and horse 7 rounding out the top three, though horse 5 is noted as a strong alternative for exotics.

Race 6 Claiming 5.5 Furlongs Dirt Purse $12,000

Win: Mystical Code (2) – 50% confidence

Place: Misses Millie (6) – 50% confidence

Show: Becky Is Sexy (7) – 17% confidence

Alternative: Avie Rae (3) – 17% confidence

A head-to-head battle is expected between horse 2 and horse 6. Analysts are evenly split on which runner takes the top spot, making this a pivotal race for multi-race sequences where using both horses may be necessary.

Race 7 Allowance 1 Mile Dirt Purse $30,000

Win: So Jordan (4) – 50% confidence

Place: Eireann (6) – 50% confidence

Show: So Jacksann (3) – 33% confidence

Alternative: Catale Winemixer (1) – 17% confidence

In this allowance feature, analysts lean heavily toward horse 4 for the win and horse 6 for the place. The consistency in analyst selections suggests a narrow outcome, with horse 3 seen as the most likely spoiler.

Race 8 Claiming 1 Mile Dirt Purse $13,000

Win: Mr Oklahoma (4) – 67% confidence

Place: Grandsonsam (3) – 33% confidence

Show: Wrinkle Road (2) – 17% confidence

Alternative: Momissioner (6) – 17% confidence

The finale sees horse 4 commanding the win pool with high confidence. Analyst opinions on the underneath horses are somewhat scattered, though horse 3 is the preferred choice for the second slot.


Recommended Exotic Plays by Race

Race 1: Analysts recommend an Exacta Box using Baseball Politics (5) and Twentyone N Change (4). For Trifecta bettors, keying Baseball Politics (5) over Runhappy Doro (1) and Twentyone N Change (4) appears the most structural approach given the pace scenarios.

Race 2: With a heavy favorite in Washita Valley (3), analysts suggest a straight Exacta of 3-1. A Trifecta 3 over 1 over ALL is recommended to capture value if a longshot like Atreidesreflection (4) or Work Zone (6) sneaks into the third spot.

Race 3: Analysts find this race suitable for an Exacta Box with Copper Magician (1), Uptono Buena (4), and Stonington (5). A Trifecta wheel keying Copper Magician (1) in the top two spots with the other three consensus runners is advised.

Race 4: Keying Because (5) on top of Superfecta tickets is the primary recommendation. Analysts suggest playing Because (5) over Natusia (6), Accelerate Judy (1), and All Aflutter (2) in various combinations to maximize potential return on a dominant favorite.

Race 5: An Exacta 2 over 1, 5, 7 is the preferred play here. Analysts suggest that Ruby’s Posse (2) is a reliable key for the Pick 3 and Pick 4 sequences starting or ending in this race.

Race 6: This race is viewed by analysts as a “box” situation. An Exacta and Trifecta Box using Mystical Code (2), Misses Millie (6), and Becky Is Sexy (7) covers the most likely outcomes in a competitive sprint.

Race 7: Analysts recommend an Exacta 4-6 and a Trifecta 4, 6 over 4, 6 over 3. This narrow approach reflects the high confidence in the top two runners relative to the rest of the field.

Race 8: To close the card, analysts suggest a Trifecta 4 over 3 over ALL. Given the large field, using Mr Oklahoma (4) as a Win/Place key in an Exacta wheel with the 3, 6, and 1 provides coverage against late-running upsets.


Value Play Observations

In Race 1, Twentyone N Change (4) is identified by analysts as a potential overlay if the public over-bets the morning line favorite Runhappy Doro (1). The consensus frequency for horse 4 is higher than typical for its projected odds, suggesting hidden value.

Race 3 presents a significant value opportunity with Stonington (5). While not the top win pick, several analysts have highlighted the runner in the place and show slots, indicating that its probability of hitting the board may exceed its morning line price.

Analysts note that in Race 6, Becky Is Sexy (7) could be an under-the-radar value play. Its inclusion in multiple consensus show and place slots suggests it is a viable candidate to disrupt the expected 2-6 exacta at a potentially higher price.

In Race 8, Grandsonsam (3) is viewed as a horse that could offer value in the place pool. Despite a dominant favorite in horse 4, the strong secondary consensus on horse 3 suggests it is the most logical choice for those looking to fade the favorite in exotic vertical wagers.


Overall Wagering Strategy

Strongest Consensus Races: The analyst community has identified Race 2 and Race 4 as the anchors for the day. In Race 2, Washita Valley (3) commands 83% confidence, backed by a significant speed advantage and strong recent form at the distance. Similarly, Because (5) in Race 4 holds 83% backing, as analysts believe the horse’s tactical versatility will be too much for the claiming field. These runners serve as the logical singles for multi-race exotic construction.

Split-Opinion Races: Race 6 and Race 7 represent the primary points of contention among analysts. In Race 6, Mystical Code (2) and Misses Millie (6) share the top billing, reflecting a tension between raw speed and closing efficiency. Race 7 shows a similar 50/50 split between So Jordan (4) and Eireann (6). Bettors should consider using both primary selections in these races to protect against narrow margins of defeat.

Multi-Race Sequences: A high-probability Pick 4 sequence exists spanning Races 5 through 8. With Ruby’s Posse (2) and Mr Oklahoma (4) providing strong bookends in Races 5 and 8, bettors can afford to spread slightly more in the mid-sequence races where opinions are more divided. The consistency of consensus picks across these four races suggests reduced volatility compared to the earlier card.

Exotic Value Opportunities: Race 8 presents the best opportunity for an exotic payout due to the 10-horse field and the variance in minor award selections. While the win consensus is firm, the battle for the show and fourth-place positions is wide open. Analysts recommend using superfecta wheels with the favorite on top and rotating several mid-price alternatives like Momissioner (6) and Wrinkle Road (2) underneath to capture pricing inefficiencies.

Environmental/Track Factors: Analysts are monitoring the track surface for potential speed bias, which would heavily favor the consensus picks in the early sprint races, particularly Baseball Politics (5) in Race 1. If the rail remains fast, the high-confidence winners in the shorter distances should be viewed with even greater conviction. Conversely, the mile-long routes in Races 7 and 8 will require patience, playing into the hands of the tactical consensus choices.

Key Takeaways: Priority should be given to keying Washita Valley (3) and Because (5) in all multi-race wagers to keep costs manageable. In the competitive sprints of Race 1 and Race 6, a boxing strategy is more appropriate than a single-key approach. Finally, look to horse 3 in the finale for place value, as analysts suggest it is the most likely runner to capitalize if the favorite falters.

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